So, now is your turn. Come out from behind the camera, capture your 'looking down' self portrait and inspire us all.

Let's get this party started...here are our linky rules:

There will be a link up here on the last Friday of every month this
year, and the linky tool will remain open to your submissions until the last Friday of the next month.

Please link back to the permalink for your *This Is ME* blog
post or flickr image, not just the general url for your blog or flickr
stream.

Linked entries must be to a blog post or flickr image of your recent self-portraits, not just any old photo. Your photo does not have to relate to the optional monthly theme, but it does need to be a
self-portrait.

Please do link back here to my blog either through a text link, or
with my button found below to help encourage others to participate and
grow our community.

And most importantly, be the encouragement you hope to receive and
help build our self-portrait community! Please try to visit a few of the
links of your fellow *This Is ME* participants and leave a nice
comment--it only takes a few minutes and you may be inspired by what you
see.

Well, that's it...now get linking everyone! I'll see you back here on
Friday, April 5th, for our April theme announcement, and in the meantime,
keep showing us your stuff in the flickr pool.

I was aimlessly wandering around the interweb the other day, and I came across a post on Balancing Home showing her spring mantle decor - featuring eggs in nests as specimen art. I loved the look, but Megan wrote that she had found her little nests on clearance - last year - at Target for $3. So I admired, bookmarked, and then said, "Well, unless Doc Brown drives the DeLorean onto my driveway, I guess that craft won't be happening this year!"

Then, I was strolling through the Dollar Store - like I do - and I came across these little beauties in the seasonal aisle. They were $1.50 (this particular dollar store has some things that are not just a dollar. Sigh.), but I picked up two packages. I can work with these! I feel craft-spiration coming on!

Then I opened them.

Holy crap. Is this where Big Bird's harem goes to lay their eggs? What kind of muppet atrocity is this?

Thankfully, the nests were easily "plucked". Ahhh... much better.

The original piece featured groups of eggs that were different colors (pink, blue, green). I looked at my speckled eggs and thought, "I can fix this!"

Because I didn't want the color to be opaque, I opted not to use my acrylic paints. Instead, I dug into the kids' craft supplies and came up with Crayola! I know - Martha could learn something from me, couldn't she?

Probably not.... but anyways...

I didn't really have a technique, per say. I painted with one color, and then dabbed on another color with a sponge brush.

It requires a bit of trial and error. What's awesome is that because Crayola is washable, you can easily fix mistakes if you're a bit too heavy on one color.

And unless you have a pink paint handy, I wouldn't recommend trying out a red paint. I ended up creating something out of a vegan person's nightmare. Those eggs were promptly washed off.

I ended up with two bluish-green nests, which I quite liked. The sponge added a mottled quality to make the eggs look more realistic.

I attached the eggs to a piece of cardstock and matted it. They're attached with double-sided tape, and so far, so good! They're housed in the same frame that my It's Raining Hearts Valentine's Artwork was in. I just removed the glass in order to give it a shadow-box quality.

I'm quite happy with how it turned out! $3 in Dollar Store nests, perhaps $.10 in cardstock, and the rest was already kicking around the house! This could be a great kids' project (especially the plucking of scary feathers from the nest), but I did this project solo.

Oh! And a P.S. to this post: I understand why it is called "Specimen Art", but ugh, isn't the most unromantic way of describing it? I wish I was called "Collection Art" or something else a bit less "I'm going to dissect this in Biology class and try not to dry heave".

I want to say a big thank you to the fabulous Amy for
letting me crash her pad. She is an awesome lady (as I’m sure you’re all very
aware of) and I am so honoured to have the opportunity to share my eggy craft
with you all.

I invite
you to pop over to my own blog, Suburble, and check out what sorts of hijinx
we’re up to. In honour of my very first guest post, I’m offering a giveaway this
weekend!

Click over for the chance to win the Labelling Package O’ Your Dreams:
14 adhesive chalkboard labels, 14 blue adhesive vinyl labels and two chalkboard
pens: one white and one silver! These labels are cut (by moi!) from indoor vinyl and are perfect
for the pantry, the playroom, the craft room, your linen closet… you name it! The chalkboard pens will write on both colours of vinyl, and the greatest thing is that a little water on a cloth wipes them clean – you
can write on them over and over again!

The
giveaway closes at midnight, Monday, March 25th, and is open to American and Canadian residents.
And because I’m a fledgling blog with a growing audience, your chances are quite possibly much
greater to win!

I look forward to meeting you!

Thank you so much Tara for visiting While Wearing Heels. If you haven't already, go and visit her lovely blog, welcome her into the crazy world of blogging and leave her some comment love.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

It's that time of month where I share my Goodwill finds. I have continued to show restraint in my Goodwill purchases but I'll let you decide that for yourself after you take a look at my purchases from the past month.

The black handbag has a sparkly black hard case. It's basic and could go with just about anything. And, was only $1.49.

The beaded gold bag is obviously vintage. The chain was missing but the bead work was in perfect condition. Guess how much? This one was $1.49, too! My handbag collection continues to grow and for $3, I can't feel too guilty about it.

Sadly, I passed on this vintage vanity chair with velvet cushion. I walked by it several times, trying to figure out where I could put this beautiful chair but in a small house, sometimes, things have to be left behind. For $14.99, I left this beauty behind. This Vintage Groove I know are shaking your head in disapproval right now.

Every trip I make to Goodwill, I look through the frame section. I found an oak picture frame for $1.99, which I painted white and then used it to show off the hand embroidered Matryoshka doll which quickly sold from my Etsy shop. Thanks Michelle!

I found this old spool of velvet ribbon for .99 cents. Nearly all of the 18 yards of ribbon is still on the spool.

The original tags from LeeWards {where my Grandma once worked} are still on the spool and was originally $4.44.

I also found some new things to hang in my closet.

I typically won't gravitate to novelty prints but this month I was. The sheer sleeveless top has an elephant print, it reminded me of my grandma and made me smile and for $3.99 it will be hung in my closet. The $2.99 mustard thermal, still with Target tags, had sweet pink birds and I am drawn to that has pink as an accent color.

I also found a few skirts. The pink and cream striped Old Navy skirt was bought on half off pink tag day, costing me $2. The red and tan skirt Gap skirt was $3.99. I can't wait for spring so I can wear both of these.

Though I showed restraint, I am still slightly tormented that I left that vanity chair behind.

About Me

Adjusting to life since being laid off. When days used to consist of business deals and wearing heels. Now that I am a stay at home mom, in addition to taking care of my adorable little girl, I am learning more about cooking, crafting and creating while realizing that even though I am a stay at home mom, I can still wear my heels!

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